Business Rural North Autumn 2023

North Broadwood Area School students have been getting a sneak preview of Broadwood Stud’s Charolais bulls - Page 11 An experience of farm life Autumn 2023 www.waterfordpress.co.nz

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Rural North accepts no responsibility for loss of photos or manuscripts. #businessruralnorth #yourstory www.waterfordpress.co.nz   Ahuwhenua Trophy Award ��03 Andrew and Emma Martin and Mary Taylor ��05 Dandaleith Angus Stud ��07 Arohiwi Station ��09 Broadwood Charolais ��11 Brad and Rebecca Pickett ��13 Auahi Charolais ��15 Browns Shorthorns ��16 Dunsmore Gardens ��17 Focus Genetics ��18 Glenlands Farm ��19 Glenrossie Beef Shorthorn Stud ��21 Gold Creek Simmentals ��22 Hinewaka Shorthorns ��23 Hauhungaroa 2C Block Incorporated ��24 Hiwiroa Shorthorns ��26 Kaimoa South Devons ��27 Hugh and Pru Lilburn ��28 Karl Wood and Jessica Hodges ��29 Millstone Red Devons ��30 Omamari Station - Pamu ��31 Kerrah Simmentals ��32 Mangamingi Station ��33 Shian Angus ��34 Nick and Kirsty Verhoek ��35 Matangi �� 36 Onuku Maori Lands Trust �� 38 Potawa Simmentals �� 40 Rangitaiki Station - James Van Bohemen �� 42 Richard Rowe Merchiston Estates Ltd �� 43 Richie Martinovich �� 44 Rimrock Hills �� 45 Rukumoana Farm: Robert and Jane Brown �� 46 Scott and Rebecca O’Brien �� 47 Stokman Angus �� 48 Shane and Kylie McDonald �� 49 Willencote Polled Herefords �� 50 Wakarua Station �� 51 Sean and Jodi Brosnahan: Resurgam Angus �� 52 Westgate Farm: Sophia Hunt �� 54 Tiniroto Station �� 55 Woodhouse Farm Organics �� 56 Mangatoa Murray Grey Stud: Zarrah Blackwell �� 57 Shane and Dot Dromgool �� 58 Te Waa logging �� 59 Johnston Spreading �� 60 Kaitaia Tractors �� 61 Pritchard Agricultural Contracting Service �� 62 Hey Harvesting �� 64 Rural Air Work �� 65 22 | Australian genetics proving popular 36 | Farm focussed on values, not output 51 | Rest of the world clamouring for Wagyu 09 | Station supports community services North OUR PARTNERS: Christchurch Office 112 Wrights Road, Addington, Christchurch Phone 03-983 5500 PO Box 37 346 www.waterfordpress.co.nz Queenstown Office 70 Glenda Drive, Queenstown 9300 PO Box 2581, Wakatipu MANAGING DIRECTOR James Lynch james@waterfordpress.co.nz EDITORIAL Editor Randall Johnston randall@waterfordpress.co.nz Paul Mein paulmein@waterfordpress.co.nz Journalists Ange Davidson, Kelly Deeks, Hugh de Lacy, Tracey Edwardes, Russell Fredric, Rachel Graham, Richard Loader, Kim Newth, Karen Phelps, Sue Russell, Rosa Watson, Virginia Wright. 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| 3 RURAL PEOPLE » Ahuwhenua Trophy Award • to page 4 Trophy celebrates Maori farming excellence 2022 Ahuwhenua Young Maori Farmer Finalists. From left: Puhirere Tau, Chloe Butcher-Herries, Rameka Edwards (Photos John Cowpland). Kelly Deeks A celebration of Maori excellence in farming for the past 89 years, the Ahuwhenua Trophy remains a beacon of light and hope in these uncertain times, as farmers and others in the primary sector live up to the reputation of being a nation where people overcome adversity, and triumph in style. “This is a time to celebrate our success and show how Maori successfully incorporate modern farming practices into their operations and at the same time have overlaid this with their own unique values of kaitiakitanga of their whenua,” says Ahuwhenua Trophy management committee chair Nukuhia Had eld. “I am proud of our achievements this year. We have worked through challenges, but have proven we are agile and innovative and have been able to deliver the competition again this year.” The Ahuwhenua Trophy competition was inaugurated by visionary Maori leader Sir Apirana Ngata and the Governor General of the time Lord Bledisloe in 1933. Sir Apirana Ngata realised the retention and improvement of what remained of Maori land was critical, and with his own interest in farming, Lord Bledisloe donated the Ahuwhenua trophy, two years after he had donated Rugby Union’s Bledisloe Cup. With a focus on improving skill and pro ciency in Maori farming, the original Ahuwhenua Trophy competition was competed for by dairy and sheep and beef farmers, and the inaugural competition was won by dairy farmer William Swinton from Raukokore, Bay of Plenty. By 1954, the dif culty of comparing dairy with sheep and beef saw the competition divided into Ballance with Nature Ballance with Nature is all about working closely with nature, so we can farm and grow sustainably and productively to keep our country thriving for generations to come. Making it easy for you to care for and protect your natural resources. If the natural world is healthy, so too are the people. Taiao ora, Tangata ora. ballance.co.nz | 0800 222 090 Together, Creating the Best Soil and Food on Earth BAL13873_Ballance with Nature_Business Rural_257x180mm_FA.indd 1 5/10/22 5:42 PM

4 | RURAL PEOPLE » Ahuwhenua Trophy Award 2021 Winners: Tataiwhetu Trust. Nukuhia Hadfield, Chair, Ahuwhenua Trophy Management Committee (Photos John Cowpland). two separate awards, each with their own trophy. Once again, Lord Bledisloe donated the companion cup. “The competition continued up until 1990s, but then interest started to wane,” Nukuhia says. “It was relaunched in 2003, and took into account the changing face of Maori farming, when Maori trusts and incorporations were coming to the fore of the agribusiness sector.” Over the years, one trophy had been destroyed by re, and one had been lost on a rail trip from Rotorua to Wellington and remained lost for a couple of years. The management committee wanted the trophies to be seen and cared for so they could generate inspiration for Maori farmers. “Farmers are practical people, and they want to be able to see things and feel things. Cedric Nepia is the Kaitiaki of the trophies, they are under his care and he chaperones them to eld days and events all around the country.” In 2005, the management committee decided to alternate the annual competition with dairy one year and sheep and beef the other. In 2012, The Young Maori Farmer Award was added to the programme, the Inaugural winner was • from page 3 E whakahī ana ki te tautoko i te Hipi me te Mīti kau Taonga Ahuwhenua 2022 Proud to support the 2022 Sheep and Beef Ahuwhenua Trophy Kia whakanuia te hiranga mahi pāmu Māori Celebrating Māori Excellence in Farming 1Ņ QJŅ NDL SŅPX 0Ņ PJŅ NDL SŅPX %\ IDUPHUV )RU IDUPHUV™ AFFCO is proud to support Ahuwhenua Trophy Award Dairy Farmer, Tangaroa Walker. The management committee again wanted to recognise the important role that Maori were playing in the horticulture sector, and so horticulture awards were introduced. The rst Ahuwhenua Excellence in Maori Horticulture and Young Maori Grower awards were held in 2020 and were won by Te Kaha B15 Hineora Orchard and Maatutaera Akonga of Hastings respectively. The Ahuwhenua Trophy competition now alternates between dairy, sheep and beef, and horticulture. The 2022 competition is for Maori sheep and beef farmers, and 2023 will be the second Horticulture Competition, while also being 90 years since the competition was inaugurated. Nukuhia says the primary sector is an everchanging thing, and the competition is evolving and changing with it, however “The legacy started by Sir Apirana Ngata and Lord Bledisloe 89 years ago is still our kaupapa today, and all of our nalists too have embraced this vision,” she says. “It’s about celebrating the success of Maori farmers and growers who are actually now industry leaders. Ahuwhenua gives them the platform to share their stories of success in their own voices to Aotearoa New Zealand.

| 5 RURAL PEOPLE » Andrew and Emma Martin and Mary Taylor “We both love Herefords. Their temperament is probably one of the main attractions. They are just nice and easy to work with. They are a good sound animal, and throw ideal calves, especially cross breeding with them. They have good longevity and fertility.” New era for Glenbrae Hereford stud Glenbrae’s annual on-farm bull sale is scheduled for June 1, the auction starting at 2pm with viewing before that. Richard Knowler When Andrew and Emma Martin take the lease of Glenbrae, a 570-hectare rolling hill country property in Central Hawke’s Bay, they will also take over the Glenbrae Hereford stud that was established by Emma’s father, Martin Taylor, over fty years ago. With a handful of very fertile river ats, Glenbrae is perfect for bringing the stud bulls up to peak condition before the annual sale. “Emma and I are both very proud to be part of the stud and know it is quite a responsibility to carry forward. We both love Herefords. Their temperament is probably one of the main attractions. They are just nice and easy to work with. They are a good sound animal, and throw ideal calves, especially cross breeding with them. They have good longevity and fertility.” Andrew and Emma currently farm a 530-hectare property neighbouring Glenbrae, and is home to 1500 breeding ewes, including hoggets, and 800 – 1000 trading lambs, depending on the season. About 100 mixed aged Angus and Angus/Hereford cows are run on the property, along with 25 rst calving heifers. All cows go to a Glenbrae Hereford bull. Although a few weaner steers are sold, most progeny are nished on farm. Along with the stud bulls, Glenbrae is home to 160 registered Hereford cows, including heifers. When Martin passed away about two years ago, Andrew and Emma came to the fore, assisting Emma’s mother, Mary, run Glenbrae as well as operating their own farm. Andrew and Emma’s long term lease of Glenbrae will mean that both properties will be run together, with the couple buying all stock. Mary will continue to be involved in the farm, providing an extra set of • to page 6 Specialising in Hay and Balage and supplying quality feed supplements. Contact Colin on 027 497 5713 or at jacobscontractingnz@gmail.com JACOBS CONTRACTING Proud to support Andrew and Emma Martin and Mary Taylor in the pursuit of breeding excellence Give us a call on 0800 2 GOLDPINE Jump on to www.goldpine.co.nz POSTS & POLES • OUTDOOR TIMBER • FARM BUILDINGS • OUTDOOR FURNITURE • WIRE, GATES & NETTING

6 | hands when needed, and continuing her connection with the farm she shared for so many years with Martin. Carrying the tradition of hosting Glenbrae’s annual on-farm bull sale just before Queen’s Birthday, this year’s auction has been set for Thursday the 1st of June. “We usually catalogue about thirty R2 bulls, which we try to get to about 750kgs. Last year we sold 21 R2 bulls, averaging about $6000. A few of the bulls are sold to local commercial farmers around the district, but quite a few are sold up Gisborne way, and the Wairarapa — all over the North Island really. “This year we are aiming to offer the rst sons available from Beechwood Ivanhoe, a bull we bought from Christchurch a few years ago. He is a lower birthweight bull and there should be about ten of his progeny included in the sale.” The auction will start at 2.00pm with viewing available prior to that. “We try to produce sound bulls with good constitution, and bulls that suits the beef market. Grunty bulls with a bit of scope about them. To get a full clearance of all bulls offered would be nice but we have lost a few clients to pine trees. We had couple of clients who gave up farming and just sold their whole farms. It’s concerning because most of the country going into pine trees is all good hillside cattle country.” • from page 5 “This year we are aiming to offer the rst sons available from Beechwood Ivanhoe, a bull we bought from Christchurch a few years ago. He is a lower birthweight bull and there should be about ten of his progeny included in the sale.” RURAL PEOPLE » Andrew and Emma Martin and Mary Taylor

| 7 RURAL PEOPLE » Dandaleith Angus Stud Angus stud offers ‘best crop of bulls yet’ Around 30 R2 bulls will be offered at Dandaleith Angus Stud’s 2023 annual on farm sale on June 13. Karen Phelps Dandaleith Angus Stud’s 2023 annual on farm sale will offer its best crop of bulls yet, says George Philip. “We’re really excited with how they look, have performed and grown out. They are exactly the style of bull we want to breed,” he says. The family business – Philip Land Company – comprises two properties. George’s uncle, Willy Philip, farms 200ha Anui farm at Dannevirke while his brother John, George and George’s wife Laura farm an 870ha hill country block near Weber east of Dannevirke. Between the two properties there are 4000 Romney ewes including 600 stud romney, along with 300 Dorset Down stud ewes and the 250-cow Dandaleith Angus Stud. The family has been busy developing the land of a neighbouring farm they purchased just over 12 months ago. Dandaleith Angus Stud has its origin in Scotland where it was started by Willy and John’s grandfather. Their father (Bill Philip) emigrated to New Zealand and started Dandaleith Angus in New Zealand in 1950. The stud had a successful sale last year, which saw a full clearance of the bulls offered as buyers targeted their sound cattle that perform on hill country with key traits being phenotype, fertility, carcass quality, growth as well as temperament. Using Bidr as a tool as part of their on-farm sale has helped them navigate the uncertainties of Covid-19. Last year bidding came from throughout the North Island, with local farmers active, and the sale was streamed live across the world. “Last year was the rst year people bid at our sale online indicating farmers are getting more familiar with using technology and have con dence in our genetics. One of our regular buyers had Covid-19 so he was able to buy online after coming to our bull walk,” says George noting Dandaleith Angus Stud also bought a sire bull online this year from the Stern Stud in the South Island. George says at Dandaleith Angus there is a real focus on structural soundness as many of their clients are hill country farmers. All the cows are run on the Weber hill country block, proving themselves • to page 8 “We’re really excited with how they look, have performed and grown out. They are exactly the style of bull we want to breed.” Willy Philip 102 Laws Rd Dannevirke Ph: 06 374 8857 Email: anui @xtra.co.nz @AnuiStudLivestock George Philip 923 Mangatuna Rd Dannevirke Ph: 06 374 2861 ON - FARM BUL L S A L E T U E S DAY 1 3 T H J U N E 2 0 2 3 , 9 . 3 0 A M 1 0 2 L AWS R OA D , DA N N E V I R K E I N S P E C T I ON S W E L C OM E sweatwork@gmail.com 021 066 0274

8 | RURAL PEOPLE » Dandaleith Angus Stud Stud on the hill with bull calves sent to Anui to grow out to their full potential after the June sale. Each spring Dandaleith Angus sells two year old and yearling bulls by private treaty, with the best genetics offered to market at the June on farm sale. The stud utilises genetics from New Zealand, Australia and further abroad. George says that Dandaleith Angus has a proven hill country herd and continues to invest in the best genetics available to ensure the cattle are sound, easy to handle, grow fast as well as bringing in the carcass attributes, which are bringing signi cant premiums to cattle farmers. Around 90 cows are arti cially inseminated annually and replacement yearling heifers are mated to their own yearling bulls showing they back their own genetics. These heifers have to have a calf as a two year old and get back in calf quickly to remain in the herd. Around 30 R2 bulls will be offered at Dandaleith Angus Stud’s 2023 annual on farm sale, a key difference being the sad passing of John’s wife Phillipa late last year. “She was quite involved with the bull sale doing the catering and hospitality side as well as the administration work for the company so she will be hugely missed,” says George. “It will be an emotional day I’d say.” • from page 7 “She was quite involved with the bull sale doing the catering and hospitality side as well as the administration work for the company so she will be hugely missed. It will be an emotional day I’d say.” For al l your Fer ti liser Spreading needs cal l DOUGALL PIDWELL FA S T - EFF I C I EN T - LO CA L LY OWN ED (M) 027 438 3378 (P) 06 327 4418 (F) 06 327 4417 (E) profer tspreading@gmai l .com - Protein Production - Excellent Legs & Feet - Longevity - Neat Udders - Cross-Breeding - Constitution - Fertility - Temperament - Milking Ability Dandaleith Angus continues to invest in the best genetics available from New Zealand, Australia and further abroad.

| 9 Station supports community services PSEC staff during a day of native tree planting. Sue Russell RURAL PEOPLE » Arohiwi Station About an hour inland from Napier, Hawke’s Bay, lies Arohiwi Station, a rather special sheep and beef farm with a signi cant and interesting history. Today, owned outright by Arohiwi Station Ltd with Presbyterian Support East Coast (PSEC) the sole shareholder, the extensive property was once privately owned by the Holt family. Patriarchs John and Robert Holt were the original owners of the property. Skip forward a generation to John’s daughter, Laura Mitchell, who gifted half of her interest in the property around 40 years ago to Presbyterian Social Service Association of Hawke’s Bay and Poverty Bay Inc as PSEC was known at that time. On Laura’s passing she bequeathed her remaining shares making PSEC half shareholders in the farm in 1991. Two decades later in 2012, PSEC gained full ownership of the hill-country property after the generosity of the Holt family allowed it to purchase the additional shares. Arohiwi Station is home to 6,500 plus pure bred Romney ewes and herds of predominantly Angus beef cattle. More recently, the acquisition of neighbouring Paige Hill added a further 434ha to the property, taking it in total to 1,472ha and enabling it to carry its current number of stock. Surplus proceeds from the Station’s operation go to PSEC to help fund support services for local disabled people, older people, and children and families. Farm Manager, Robbie Schaw, has been in the role for 2 ½ years and describes his role as intense and very rewarding. “It is a busy role. My last managers job was more stock management but now I oversee all the administration, staff and land-based activity.” Robbie says there is always a lot of development going on, and since establishing a clear environmental plan it’s given this activity direction and purpose. • to page 10 Servicing the Puketapu, Patoka & Puketitiri area for baling, silage & maize, cultivation, drilling, beet / maize planting & earthmoving requirements M 021 308 684 E info@ct.net.nz CT.NET.NZ Ngatarawa Rd, Hastings. 027 243 5330 e: kingstonfarming@gmail.com Proud to be associatedwithArohiwi Station PROUDLY SUPPORTING AROHIWI STATION Simon & Melissa Turner 06 839 8644 GLENHOPE ROMNEY Proud to supply Romney Rams to Arohiwi Station

10 | Presbyterian Support East Coast is the sole shareholder in Arohiwi Station, a 1472ha sheep and beef property near Napier. RURAL PEOPLE » Arohiwi Station “We’re reducing drenching of ewes and this year we just drenched 40% of the ewes.” Romney Rams are purchased from Turner Romneys just next door while terminal sires are supplied by Ben Dawson of Waihou Stud, 10 minutes down the road. All the progeny from the Angus cows are carried through. In early November, Arohiwi Station Ltd held its Annual General Meeting and this involved people connected with PSEC making a farm visit, something Robbie says he really enjoyed “They have such a keen interest in what we’re doing and they like to get involved in activities as opportunities present. As we tour the farm we discuss speci c topics so they come away with a really good picture as to what is happening and what is planned.” A number of developments continue on-going on the substantial block of land. Robbie hopes to get the Station’s environmental plan completed and he’s established some small but signi cant goals around stock management and health. “We’re reducing drenching of ewes and this year we just drenched 40% of the ewes.. Our aim is to get to the place where we are not drenching any ewes and we want to try to produce a sheep that can produce lambs to 70% of its own body weight.” Working with Robbie is senior shepherd, Benny Cross and shepherd, Hugh Banks who started at Arohiwi Station in May this year. And while there’s been plenty of rain Robbie says some positives can still be taken out of this situation. “We’re growing a lot of grass.” Arohiwi Station is paying for Benny and Hugh to complete their Diploma in Ag through Primary ITO, commencing at Level 4. Providing the team with opportunities to grow their own farming careers is important to Robbie and to PSEC. 1pm, Tuesday 23rd May 2023 On-farm auction in conjunction with BIDR Eighth Annual Sale • from page 9

| 11 RURAL PEOPLE » Broadwood Charolais Three Broadwood Charolais herd sires getting ready for mating season in November 2022. Students from the Broadwood Area School primary industries class have been getting a sneak preview of Broadwood Stud’s Charolais bulls that will be put up for sale on May 30. Stud owner Gay and Wayne Semenoff’s daughter Catherine is a teacher at Broadwood Area School and the bulls are being run at her and husband Craig’s Awaroa Road property, with students coming for an experience of farm life including picking which bull they think will get top dollar at the Semenoff’s sale. Around 26 bulls will be offered this year with 25 polled with the sale held at 1.30pm at the 834 Awaroa Road farm. Gay says all the bulls are quiet with good temperament; electric fence trained and have been handled by multiple people. They also meet the couple’s criteria of good balance, structure, fast growth, good feet, mothering ability and acceptable estimated breeding values as well as able to stand the conditions of the Northland climate and land type throughout their lifetime, says Gay who is also a cattle judge meaning buyers can have real con dence in her assessment. The Semenoffs source genetics from around New Zealand to develop their stud and the bulls being put up for sale have been mainly sired from Coleman Farms and RJC genetics. Both the Semenoffs come from farming backgrounds but it was not until the 1980’s that they entered farming purchasing their 135-hectare farm at Broadwood near Kaitaia. Although Wayne grew up in the area on a dairy farm he spent most of his career working for the Bay of Islands Cooperative Dairy Students get sneak preview of sale Karen Phelps Company managing their trading and merchandise department. Gay was a teacher. In 2004 they purchased a second farm located 10 kilometres away. The reason was largely to help Catherine and Craig to purchase 70ha of the block, which was on its own title, while the Semenoffs purchased the remaining 203ha of the property. It also allowed daughter Anita and her husband Doug Booth, who have their own farm, which adjoins the 203ha block, to eventually take it over. The Booths and their three children currently live in a house on the new farm while continuing to work their own farm. • to page 12 Granddaughter Evana leading pet calf Tip. Rising 2yr Certified Charolais bulls available Enquiries and Inspection Welcomed Please contact: Wayne and Gay Semenoff, Broadwood, Northland ph: 09 4095522 email: semenoff@outlook.co.nz On FarmSale - Tuesday, 30May 1:00pm

12 | Broadwood Charolais Stud R2 Sale Bulls grazing in May last year. RURAL PEOPLE » Broadwood Charolais They will put up two of their Angus R2s at the Broadwood sale from their Hokianga Angus Stud. Over the two farms the Semenoffs run 270 registered purebred Charolais cattle and a small commercial herd of 40 cows. All are run with registered purebred Charolais bulls. Wayne says the Charolais breed is a very popular cross as it gives offspring a nice uniform colour and offers farmers flexibility as they can be finished either early or later as they put weight on without moving into the cheaper grades. First calving heifers are sent to an Angus or Devon bull and these are sold at the weaner fair in Broadwood each March. The mixed age commercial cows (black and white faces mainly) have a purebred Charolais bull put over them to produce a crossbred calf that are also sold at this fair. Gay says the May sale bulls will be penned by 10am for viewing and the Semenoffs welcome a visit any time. A ‘B mob’ will be offered via paddock sale but virtually all have been committed to purchase by dairy farmers. The Semenoffs will also pass a record on to the school of the sales results so the students can see if they have a good eye for a great bull and they picked the top dollar animal hopefully encouraging the next generation to take an interest in a farming or breeding career. A young Broadwood herd sire. BEEF FARMERS: Join the rush, buy a GLENANTHONY SIMMENTAL BULL this year for: • Extra live weight at weaning • Extra live weight at finishing • Less feed, less cost, less fuss! Glenanthony Democrat Bull Sale Thursday 8th June Farm Rd Waipukurau Enquiries to Tony Thompson 027 280 6148 • from page 11

| 13 North American genetics focus for stud Denson Dale Vans Vestry. Hugh de Lacy Greenacre Jersey Stud is young for a registered herd – barely six years old – and you won’t nd its progeny on the market for a while, but when they arrive they’ll be nearly as big as a crossbred cow thanks to a recent in ux of North American genetics. The 60ha farm on the ats near Morrinsville has been in the Pickett family for more than a century, and that brings a fair weight of experience to current studmaster Brad Pickett, who farms with his wife Rebecca and parents Fiona and Graham Pickett. It was Graham’s father Stan Pickett who picked Jerseys as the family’s foundation herd in the early 1900s. Today, as the Greenacre Jersey Stud, the farm runs a herd of 230 cows, all of them registered, each producing between 530 and 550kg of milkfats for a total farm output of around 125,000kg a year, supplying the Tatua milk company. Production is under-written by a single centrepivot irrigator – something unusual in the Morrinsville area – that was installed by Graham Pickett 20 years ago, and which covers 80% of the farm. It proved a godsend in 2021’s historically dry Waikato summer, though this year the weather in the area has gone to the other extreme with what seems like near-constant rain. In founding his Jersey stud, Brad Pickett had a lot of help and encouragement from Matamata breeder Lloyd Wilson, whose Densondale Jersey Stud was dispersed in April of last year. Brad picked up eight of Lloyd’s highly valued cows at the dispersal sale, but he had already been introducing that bloodline to his herd as calves and heifers since he took over the farm nine years ago. As a second revenue stream, the stud operation is still at the embryonic stage. “We’re not selling any progeny yet: I want to build up cow families in the herd before we get into sales,” Brad says. He also wants to build conformation and milk into his animals, and to this end he’s got a policy RURAL PEOPLE » Brad and Rebecca Pickett • to page 14 CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS MORRINSVILLE Guiding you to success 226B Thames Street Morrinsville 07 889 1018 www.mbsadvisors.co.nz of gradually reducing stock numbers in pursuit of higher per-cow production. Again with an eye to size, Brad’s also been looking overseas for new genetic in uences for Greenacre, buying semen from Canada and the United

14 | “Jerseys in North America are bigger than our ones here, and I see no reason why you can’t get all the positive attributes of Jerseys into a bigger package. Our own cows are getting near 480kg mature liveweight, which is big for a New Zealand Jersey, and we’ve gone away from New Zealand bloodlines while breeding for conformation and size.” The 60ha farm on the ats near Morrinsville has been in the Pickett family for more than a century. RURAL PEOPLE » Brad and Rebecca Pickett States through international company Semex. “Jerseys in North America are bigger than our ones here, and I see no reason why you can’t get all the positive attributes of Jerseys into a bigger package. “Our own cows are getting near 480kg mature liveweight, which is big for a New Zealand Jersey, and we’ve gone away from New Zealand bloodlines while breeding for conformation and size. “It’s only been a couple of years since we started dropping stock numbers to get higher per-cow production, but we’re seeing small improvements already, and we’re keen to build the stud around this,” Brad says. What Brad likes about Jerseys is that “they’re fairly robust, lighter in the foot and more forgiving,” attributes that proved their worth through this year’s wet summer in which his big Greenacre Jerseys continued to thrive. www.glenbraestud.co.nz Annual Bull Sale 1st June 2023 ANNUAL Mitch Blackwood - 027 496 1462 David & Pip Blackwood - 027 372 6615 hinewaka@outlook.co.nz WEDNESDAY 7TH JUNE, 2023 3PM ON FARM - OFFERING 20 BULLS • Strong rugged, hill country bulls for commercial farmers • Well known for their quiet temperament, growth rates & fertility • Ideal cross breeding sire, maintaining maternal traits • BVD tested and vaccinated WWW.HINEWAKASHORTHORNS.CO.NZ • 456 TE WHARAU RD, MASTERTON • from page 13

| 15 RURAL PEOPLE » Auahi Charolais Bumper cow sale attracting interest The on-farm sale will include 120 cows, including two and three year old in-calf heifers plus three stud sires. Karen Phelps After 40 years breeding John Henderson admits he is attached to his cows. But with an eye to the future he is about to put up nearly all of Auahi Charolais’ cows for sale. On April 11 he will hold an on farm sale where around 120 cows including two and three year old in-calf heifers, plus three stud sires, will be offered to the market. The move has been prompted by the loss of a lease block that was used to run the stud and not being able to nd any other land in the vicinity to purchase. John also admits slowing down would be nice but he will hold onto his yearlings in case he nds another farm and decides to build up the stud again. Along with keeping a few cows John will offer semen sales from Sandown – a spectacular bull he purchased from Silverstream Charolais in Canterbury last year for $50,000. “When I saw Sandown I knew he was exceptional and I just had to buy him,” says John. “He should produce calves with short gestation, low birth weight and homozygous polled.” The two year olds offered for sale and half of the three year olds are in-calf to Sandown. John says the sale catalogue will come out mid March and anyone can come and see the sale animals. On the day of the sale the cow and calves they have reared this year will be available to view. John and brother Perry and Perry’s wife Kate are in partnership on three dairy farms in Otorohanga milking around 850 cows. Perry’s son Michael is a sharemilker on one of the dairy units. They are also in a partnership with John and Perry’s brother Stuart on the family farm in Piopio, 140ha that is half in deer and the other half used to carry Charolais bulls and younger heifers. The stud is named after the road this farm is on. The brothers started Auahi Charolais back in 1981 when they had just bought their rst farm Ever since they were kids they had had passion for Charolais. A cow and two heifers were purchased at a dispersal sale and the brothers used AI in the early years, sourcing the best genetics they could and gradually built the stud up, also buying at other dispersal sales when the opportunity arose. Their Charolais are generally used by farmers to cross over Hereford Friesians and one dairy farmer buys up to ten bulls off the stud each year, keeping them one to two years as he doesn’t want the animals to get too big to go over his dairy cows, and rears a lot of progeny, taking them through to 18-20 months. The general breeding traits that Auahi offers farmers is polled (out of 100 odd calves last year only around 10% were horned), calving ease (last year they didn’t have to assist any of the two years olds during calving with 100% live calves), quick maturing cattle and good temperament. John says that one of the stud’s best achievements in all the years was selling one of its own bulls to Silverstream Charolais last year. 100Cows includingHeifers (VIC) 42 years Breeding 11thApril 2023 First StageDispersal Sale

16 | Expanding gene pool a game changer Bayview Unique K11 (pictured above), Polldale Neat N38 (below) are two of the three most recent bulls that Browns Shorthorns have purchased NZ Semen rights for, the third being Polldale Quantum Q17. Tracey Edwardes Expanding the gene pool of the country’s oldest cattle breed was a game changer for a seasoned Waikato farmer, thanks to some Trans Tasman team work. Hamish and Justine Brown of Brown’s Shorthorns, a combined 400h dairy block near Morrinsville and beef /dairy grazing at Waiterimu, fetched the highest price nationally, $18,000, for one of their Shorthorn bulls at last year’s auction. The bull, Brown’s Supreme was bought by Anita Erskine of Westwood Shorthorns, Tuatapere. The Browns have dairy farmed for the last 30 years, and have also been creating interest within their Shorthorn beef stud by bringing in new genetics from Australia. “In 2016 I met Peter Falls of Malton Shorthorn at The National Australian Shorthorn sale,” he says. Peter has 70 years association with the breed, and has 550 breeding cows over three properties in the NSW Riverina. “The combined purchase of Bayview Unique K11 with the Malton Shorthorn stud for $30,000 began our association and syndicate between us. We buy bulls together in Australia, they keep them there and use them in their stud, and we import the semen into NZ.” Hamish’s father Ian Brown, Wanganui, started the original Kahanui shorthorn stud in 1968 with the purchase of a two year old in calf heifer in 1968. Bulls of note used over the years were Glen Eagles Tradition, Erambie Ellington, Broome Quality, Super Dazzler, Marellan Vagabond and Webollabolla Theodore. Hamish started his own Brown’s Shorthorn stud herd in 2000 with an in-calf heifer out of his father’s herd. Since then, Hamish has obtained NZ semen rights for Waukuru Patent (America) and then Australian bulls Moombi Ooktali G34, Polldale Neat N38 and the current sire Polldale Quantum Q17. We have enjoyed an association with the Longview shorthorn stud in KeriKeri, purchasing bulls to use after AI. The Browns milk 600 X-Breed dairy cows in Morrinsville and have supplied the Tatua Cooperative Dairy Company for the last 16 years. In addition to this, they have 50-60 Shorthorn stud beef cows on the Waiterimu property, and sell around 15 bulls into the stud shorthorn, commercial beef and dairy industry. Any leftovers are used over the home dairy cows. Hamish is a trained Arti cial Insemination Technician, doing the AI himself via his own liquid nitrogen storage bank. “Especially with the dairy herd it’s the timing, I don’t have to wait in line, can get cows back grazing earlier, and can dabble in RURAL PEOPLE » Browns Shorthorns genetics with choice of the best. Employing three full time staff, Justine works the of ce, and the couple toggle between the dairy operation and their dry stock farm at Waiterimu, 50 “We strive to breed functional, mobile cattle with low birth weights and high growth rates, good feet, and in multi colours from mottled reds, to roan and white.” This year’s online bidr sale is expected to be in June. “We strive to breed functional, mobile cattle with low birth weights and high growth rates, good feet, and in multi colours from mottled reds, to roan and white.” Office: 07-824-3565 Operations Manager: 027-824-3565 Darren: 0274-894-496 Johnathan: 0272-219-804 Email: info@grainandfood.co.nz Web: www.grainandfood.co.nz AGRICULTURAL / HARVESTING / DRAINAGE & CARTAGE CONTRACTORS Big Enough to Tackle any Job; Small Enough to Care How It’s Done! Browns Shorthorns WHY NOT TRY OUR LATEST GENETICS? Sires by PolldaleNeat N38 andBayviewArcherM15 h.j.brown@xtra.co.nz

| 17 Technology and innovation are key Karen Phelps Technology and innovation is helping the kumara industry to reduce dependence on labour, improve environmental impacts and remain viable into the future, says Dunsmore Gardens owner Doug Nilsson “Farm owners are very active about environmental issues on farm,” he says. “It’s in our best interest to look after our land as everyone wants a farm to sell one day to be able to retire.” Aside from weather, labour is the biggest factor in the success of a kumara harvest, he says, due to the labour intensive nature of the crop. On his farm kumara is laid out by hand, after being hand selected for seed, in eight kilometres of ground beds from the end of July to September. The plants are then all harvested and cut off by hand, taken into shed and prepared for planting and planted by hand. As the crop grows chemicals to knock back the weeds can also kill the kumara so some hand weeding is always required as well. At harvest time, if conditions are right, machinery can be used but labour is needed to work on the harvesters and to hand sort on the belt etc. “Labour really dictates how much of the crop we will get planted in the planting window, quality and yields,” says Doug. “The workforce can be ckle so we never know who will turn up on any given day, which further complicates things. And every part of the process can potentially mean damage to the crop depending on the worker so we are really reliant on good workers.” RURAL PEOPLE » Dunsmore Gardens Dunsmore Gardens is grateful to a small group of around 13 workers through the RSE scheme from Vanuatu that form the nucleus of its team of up to 70 workers at harvesting time and around 40 workers at planting. Doug says he is always trying different ways of doing things to reduce reliance on labour and improve productivity and ef ciency. For example at the moment the industry is trialling a kumara planting machine and on his own farm he has built a harvester to pull plants out of the beds. He hopes this will give consistency and not work ground up as much, lessening environmental impact and helping with drainage. He also uses GPS self-steering tractors, which give greater accuracy and up to a 40% saving in diesel as well as saving labour. Doug showed interest in growing at a young age. Growing up on a local sheep and beef farm he started growing strawberries while at high school, selling them locally. Through the eighties sheep and beef farming was tough so his parents divested into cropping, starting with squash and progressing to kumara. In 2002 Doug took over the business, eventually buying the land and adding additional blocks to give 200ha. The kumara growing area is around 70ha and he grows all the main commercial varieties are grown: Owairaka Red, Beauregard, Toka Toka and Purple Dawn. He is trialling the Japanese variety Murasaki, which has reddish-purple skin but unlike the typical orange sweet potatoes it has white esh. He says it has a rmer, drier texture than other sweet potatoes and an earthy, chestnut-like sweetness. In the off season Dough put in grass and fatten 2000-2500 lambs over the winter then sprays out the paddocks and puts kumara back in. On some paddocks he grows a crop of silage for a year – this year that was 20ha of maize. He also takes the opportunity in the non-growing season to help control aggressive weeds such as alligator weed. Product is supplied to Kaipara Kumara, which Dunsmore Gardens is a shareholder of. Doug says the New Zealand market for kumara is unique because of the conditions we are growing in giving it a real point of difference that Kiwis enjoy. 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TOTAL REFRIGERATION LTD COMMERCIAL REFRIGERATION, AIR CONDITIONING & MARINE SPECIALIST • From Sustainable refrigeration systems to complete solutions in refrigeration • Let us help with your entire operation. • At Total Refrigeration we work closely with our customers to understand your requirements, whether a smaller made to fit custom kitchen chiller in your home or work place or a larger cool room/ freezer for your complete cool storage. • We custom design, build and install no matter what you are wanting to refrigerate or freeze. • Cool rooms for meat require different refrigeration sized components, as opposed to plant produce, seafood or vegetable products, we are able to offer expert advice on what is needed to make sure you get what you require and within your budget. Whether you're starting a new business or replacing your old refrigeration equipment, we can assist with the industry's leading brands for quality and reliability. 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